Combined folding washbench and ironing-board.



No. 667,266. Patented Feb. 5, IBM.

C. J. UPP. COMBINED FOLDING WASHBENCH AND IBONING'BOABD.

(Application-filed June 2, 1899.

2 Sheets-8heet I.

(No Model.)

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COMBINED FOLDING WASHBENOH AND IRONING BOARD;

Patented Feb. 5,1901.

2 Shoots-Sheet 2.

' (No Model.)-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CYRENIUS J. UPP, or HOMER, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED FOLDING WASHBENCH AND lRONING-B OARD.

SPECIFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,266, dated February 5, 1961.

Application filed June 2, 1899. Serial No. 719,118. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OYRENIUs J. UPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Homer, in the county of Ohampaign and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Folding \Vashbench andv Ironing-Board; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to laundry appliances, being designed to supply a device of novel and simple construction which will comprise in a single organized structure a vertical frame for supporting a wringer, a foldable frame constituting a bench and a brace, a lazy-ton gs frame forming, in effect,a clothesrack, a brace, and a support, and an ironingboard vertically adjustable, so as to be used either as a bench or in its primal capacity.

With these and such other ends in view as pertain to the nature of the invention the latter consists of the novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as will hereinafter be more particularly set forth, illustrated, and finally claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device shown adjusted for use as a washbench. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the structure adjusted for use as an ironing-board. Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the structure folded or reduced to a compact form.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The vertical frame 1 comprises side bars 2, feet 3, a lower cross-bar l, and an upper crossbar 5, connecting the side bars 2 at their terminals. The upper cross-bar 5 consists of a plate vertically arranged and adapted to receive a wringer of ordinary construction, which is clamped thereto in the usual "way. A drip-board 6 is applied to the lower edge of the cross-bar 5 and is designed to receive the drippings from the wringer and direct them back into the tub or vessel containing the clothing being washed.

A foldable frame 7 is hinged to one side of the vertical frame 1 and comprises a supporting-section 8 and a leg-section 9, which sec tions consist of parallel side bars connected by transverse rods, said side bars being hinged to each other and to the side bars 2 of the vertical frame. The side bars of the supporting-section 8 are hinged at their inner upper corners to the side bars 2 and are adapted to fold upward against said bars 2, and when turned into a horizontal position their inner ends abut squarely against the contiguous edges of the bars 2 and limit the downward movement of the said supporting-sections. The side bars of the leg-section are hinged at their inner upper corners to the outer lower edges of the side bars of section 8, and their hinged ends are cut slightly upon a bevel to compel the leg-section to assume an inclination when the frame is unfolded, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. This fold-able frame constitutes a support for the washtub, basket, or other receptacle incidental to laundering clothing or like articles. The lazytongs structure 10 is mounted upon the lower cross-bar 4 of the vertical frame 1 and constitutes a clothes-rack, the cross-bars 11, connecting the ends of the upper and lower levers, forming supports upon which the clothing or articles to be dried may be hung. This structure is adjustable, so as to raise and lower the ironing-board 12, applied thereto, and is held in an adjusted position by means of a bar 13,

mounted to swing upon the upper intermediate crossbar-14 of the structure and having its lower portion notched, as shown at 15, and adapted to engage with an intermediate lower cross-bar 16 of the said structure. The crossbars 11 are disposed in parallel relation and pivotally connect the overlapping terminals of the levers of the lazy-tongs structure and serve as ties to connect the levers at one side of the structure with corresponding levers at the opposite side. The ironing-board 12 is pivotally mounted at one end upon the upper crossbar of the structure 10 and is supported in a horizontal position by resting upon the corresponding outer cross-bar. A longitudinal bar 17 is applied to the lower side of the ironing-board and is formed in its lower edge with a series of notches 18, which are adapted to engage with the upper outer cross-bar of the structure 10, and thereby supplement the action of the bar 13 to hold the structure in an adjusted position. The notched bar 13 braces the lazy-tongs structure vertically at an intermediate point in any position within the range of its adjustment, and the notched bar 17 braces said structure horizontally. The provision of these bars 13 and 17 enables the levers entering into the formation of the lazy-ton gs structure to be made com paratively light, which is of advantage, as it adds to the appearance of the device and increases its portability. If the notched bar 17 were dispensed with, the divergent ends of the uppermost levers of the lazy-tongs structure would tend to spread under the weight imposed thereon and would of necessity have to be made heavy in order to withstand the strain. If the bar 13 were discarded, the structure would tend to spring vertically. As previously stated, the provision of both notched bars 13 and 17 braces the structure vertically and horizontally.

The ironing-board can be adjusted to any elevation by means of closing the lazy-tongs frame to a greater or less extent, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the ironingboard is lowered to about the position shown in Fig. 1, it constitutes a washbench, and when elevated, as shown in Fig. 2, it can he used in the ordinary manner for ironing purposes, the support 7 forming a rest for the basket containing the clothing or articles to be ironed. \Vhen the deviceis adjusted for use as a washbench, the wringer (not shown) is applied to the cross-bar 5 in the ordinary manner, and the tubs or like vessels are placed upon the frame 7 and the ironing-board 12, as will be readily comprehended.

WVhen the device is not required for immediate service, it can be folded into a compact form, as shown in Fig. 4, thelaZy-tongs structure being closed and turned upon the crossbar a, so that the ironing-board and aportion of the lazy-tongs structure willcome between the side bars 2 of the vertical frame. The frame 7 will close against the upper portion of the vertical frame and is held in folded relation by a hook 19, applied to each bar 2, and an eye or pin 20, applied to each side bar of the supporting-section 8, as indicated most clearly in Fig. a.

The inner end of the ironing-hoard is located between the vertical spaced bars 2 and is adapted to move vertically between said bars when the ironing-board is adjusted to the required elevation. As a result of having the inner end of the ironing-board operate in the space between the spaced bars 2, said ironing-board and the lazy-tongs structure are prevented from relative lateral displacement, as will be readily understood. When the device is folded, the ironing-board and lazytongs structure enter the space formed between the spaced bars 2, thereby enabling the structure to be reduced to acompact form, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing it is obvious that within the purviewof the invention various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- 1. In a device of the character set forth, a vertical frame comprising spaced vertical side bars, a lazy-tongs structure having pivotal connection at its inner lower end with the lower portion of the vertical frame, an ironing-board connected at its inner end with the upper inner end of the said lazy-tongs structure and capable of any desired elevation thereby, the inner end of said ironingboard being located between and adapted to move vertically in the space formed between the vertical spaced bars, and means for holding the lazy-tongs structure in an adjusted position, the ironing-board and lazy'tongs structure being adapted to fold between the spaced bars of the vertical frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a device of the character specified, a vertical frame comprising side bars and upper and lower connecting cross-bars, a lazytongs structure mounted upon the lower crossbar, means applied to the cross-bars of the lazy-tongs structure for holding it in an adjusted position, an ironing-hoard applied to the upper cross-bar of the lazy-tongs struc ture, and a notched bar applied to the lower side of the ironing-board and adapted to operate with the opposite upper cross-bar of the said lazytongs structure and assist in holding it in an adjusted position, substantially as specified.

3. The herein-described device for the purpose set forth comprising a vertical frame consisting of side bars, upper and lower connecting cross-bars, the upper crossbar being vertically arranged and adapted to have a wringer applied thereto and a drip-board located at the lower edge portion of the said upper cross-bar, a foldahle frame applied to one side of the vertical frame and comprising a supporting and a leg section hinged to each other and to the vertical frame, a lazy tongs structure mounted upon the lower cross-bar of the vertical frame, an ironingboard applied to the upper cross-bar of the lazy-tongs structure, a notched bar applied to the lower side of the ironing-board and adapted to cooperate with the opposite upper cross-bar of the said lazy-tongs structure, and means independent of said notched bar for holding the lazy-tongs structure when adjusted, the parts being combined to cooperate in the manner set forth and to fold in a compact form, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OYRENIUS J. UPP. l/Vitnesses:

J. A. SMITH, JOHN W. TURNER. 

